Capitals 0 Sharks 2 Postgame Recap

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 17: Joe Thornton #19 of the San Jose Sharks celebrates with teammates after the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on January 17, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Sharks defeated the Coyotes 4-2. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The Caps played two 60 minute hockey games back to back for arguably the first time this season and were feeling good coming into tonight against a hot Sharks team who has dominated them in the past, but two goals late in the third did in the Caps who were out worked the entire game. It looked like the Caps were a step off all night, they were out shot 36-25 total, but only managed 4 shots in the entire first period and made it even look remotely competitive because of a lot of shots late in the third.

In the first the Caps were out shot 15-9 but had a lot of chances including a disallowed goal due to a fast whistle that the referee apologized later for to Bruce Boudreau. But the momentum shifted afterwards to the Sharks and they rode it till they finally beat Michal Neuvirth on a Logan Couture five hole shot with 8:05 remaining in the third. A little over two minutes later Dan Boyle beat Neuvirth short side on a one timer to put the game away. Michal Neuvirth had 34 saves but let two in that he probably should’ve had and falls to 16-7-4 on the season.

The Caps energy wasn’t there all night and as Bruce Boudreau said they got too cute and went away from the game plan. Alex Ovechkin had six shots blocked and Boudreau said he thought about switching up the lines, but didn’t think anyone was really playing well to do it. He also said that when your stars aren’t your stars it’s tough to win and tonight the stars never showed up. This is the eighth time this season the Caps have been shut out, the most since the 1998-1999 season. The Caps have one more game at home on Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings before a big road trip making Saturday’s game even more important. The Caps (29-16-10, 68 points) are still three points behind the Lightning in the Southeast Division and have lost 13 of their last 14 against the Sharks and play them again in nine days. The Caps will have a day off tomorrow and practice at Kettler on Thursday and Friday. Check out what Bruce Boudreau, Alex Ovechkin, Karl Alzner & Mathieu Perreault had to say following the game…

Sky Kerstein is 106.7 The FAN’s Capitals Beat Reporter and a fill-in co-host. Also you can find video recaps of every Caps game and post-game interviews on www.1067thefandc.com. You can get in touch with Sky on Facebook or via Twitter at www.twitter.com/SkyKerstein.